Shy

[size=1]Things I miss on OB: [list][*]Transtic Nerve's posts in the original Final Quest for Glory. [*]'Hamburglar v. Grimace' debate. [*]The Yaoi Forum. [*]LifeKnight and AWomansRightToChooseKnight [*]'Are you a Walrus or a Carpenter?' [*]'Digmon Slash Fiction!?' [*]The Artistic Nudes thread. [*]Babygirl! [*]Meteo City Courthouse Chats [*]Discussing Major League Hockey with Charles. [*]Abe Lincoln: his subsequent banning, unbanning, and deletion. [*]The OtakuBoards Divorce Thread [/list] -Shy[/size]

[size=1]I would rather not look back on my old posts. In 7 (8? 24?) years my posting habits and mastery of the English language have changed dramatically. Ew. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/von%20braun/arthurmostdefinitely.jpg[/img] [img]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/gaelavatar1.jpg[/img][/center] Arthur felt a subtle nudge from behind as he stood before the passenger bridge. Though he had spent much his life reading up on space travel, he was certainly not comfortable with the idea of doing it himself. “[b]You needn’t worry,[/b]” a comforting, female voice said from behind, “[b]I have to admit that I’m a little nervous as well.[/b]” He turned around to discover a beautiful woman with olive skin and penetrating violet eyes. She was wearing an ornate purple saree, embroidered with detailed gold stitching. Arthur shook his head. Right above them was a clear domed ceiling, revealing the dark expanse of space. “[b]It’s just I had never expected it to be like this… everyone seems to casual, but look -- we‘re in the middle of outer space…[/b]” “[b]A little humbling, isn‘t it?[/b]“ she replied with a smile, “[b]My name is Gael. I‘m one of the performers on board the Von Braun.[/b]” “[b]It’s very nice to meet you. My name is Arthur Clarke.[/b]” The two shared a nod, and they began to walk across the bridge. Several passengers had already hurried across, eager to explore the grounds for themselves. Arthur too was excited to learn more about the mysterious outpost firsthand, but he would never let anyone else know that. “[b]Have fun everyone![/b]” a cheery voice called out from a loudspeaker, “[b]We‘ll be returning to the Von Braun to our dinners in just a few short hours.[/b]” “[b]So what brings you to the Von Braun, Mr. Clarke?[/b]” Gael asked. He thought for a moment before responding, “[b]I’m just trying to fulfill a promise I made long ago. You?[/b]” “[b]Trying to escape from a promise, I suppose…[/b]” Along with the gold lace Gael wore between the braids of her hair there was also an enormous green jewel placed squarely on her forehead. Arthur couldn’t help but admire it, and try to turn the topic of conversation to lighter matters, “[b]My. That gem on your forehead is exquisite.[/b]” Gael smiled, “[b]Oh, thank you, Mr. Clarke.[/b]” "[b]You can call me 'Arthur,' you don't have to be so formal.[/b]" "[b]I'll try, but I can't promise anything. I'm a little old-fashioned.[/b]" "[b]Maybe both of us are.[/b]" Arthur looked ahead, noticing a downward slope in their walkway. With half of the space station beneath the lunar surface, it appeared as the entire space was being reclaimed by the Moon, or devoured. It was impossible from the shuttle to tell how large the outpost really was; Arthur was determined to find out firsthand.

[size=1]Alan Moore is great, but I think he's also overrated. Watchmen is a masterpiece to longtime fans of comic books, but to outsiders it's incredibly dense, foreign and... well, [i]boring[/i]. It's like War and Peace for graphic novels -- everybody [i]knows[/i] that it's supposed to be good, but very few actually understand or enjoy the work. Much like The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen was revolutionary for its' time, but comes across now as a little bit dated. That's not to say I don't enjoy Alan Moore, quite the opposite. But comic books/graphic novels have evolved so much over the years that having mainstream success and "mature" storytelling are no longer mutually exclusive. Plus, Alan Moore is insane. Holding a madman in such high regard kind of bothers me on a personal level; any day now we're going to find out that he ate his next door neighbors or something. Also, how did you read Miracleman? It's been out of print and tied up in legal battles for like, decades. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Stephanie'][size=1]I am officially sexy now. Redheads definately do it better. [url=http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa82/brierlotus91/Me/Copy04.jpg]Looking at you[/url] [url=http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa82/brierlotus91/Me/Copy03.jpg]Howls[/url] [url=http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa82/brierlotus91/Me/Copy01.jpg]Head on[/url][/size][/QUOTE][size=1]Were you unofficially sexy before? Fun pictures, but a little too much eyeshadow, dear. Looking in this thread makes me feel like a pedophile! Still, I think OB was much hotter when I was in high school. Sigh. -Shy[/size]

[size=1][b]The moderator's pleas were never heard. Nobody loves a murderer. She did. It wasn't divorce until Virginia confessed.[/b] -Shy[/size]

[b][size=1]John hated Jane. So did Jane. It wasn't murder, it was breakfast. "Jesus has returned. News at eleven."[/b] -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/von%20braun/arthurmostdefinitely.jpg[/img][/center] Arthur nervously adjusted his collar. Across the room stood an older man, one who had been staring at him for quite some time. For a moment Arthur had assumed that this slender, dark figure was admiring Ilona along with the rest of the audience, but that was clearly not the case. Although he wasn?t sure why, his palms began to sweat as he approached the stranger. ?[b]Pardon me?[/b]? he said, trying to hide the concern in his voice, ?[b]But I couldn?t help you were.. staring at me.[/b]? ?[b]Oh, I apologize for that,[/b]? the man let out a warm smiled, and reached for Arthur?s hand, ?[b]You probably don?t recognize me after all of these years. But I could never forget you.[/b]? The man motioned for a side table near the dance floor, and the two set down. He seemed genuinely excited to see Arthur, staring at him with a sense of nostalgia in his eyes. ?[b]It?s amazing how much you look like your mother?[/b]? he said, ?[b]My name is Alan Perez. I was a colleague of your father?s at Washington Prime University.[/b]? ?[b]You? you know my parents?[/b]? ?[b][I]Knew,[/I][/b]? Alan laughed, ?[b]And very well. In fact, we worked together in researching The Great Disaster some years ago. I used to baby-sit you when your mother decided it was time for an evening out.[/b]? Arthur shook his head, ?[b]I don?t think I?ve ever even heard your name before.[/b]? The old man let out a heavy sigh, ?[b]That doesn?t surprise me. As I?m sure you understand, our relationship became quite strained after he published his findings. I know he never forgave me for not defending his claims, but there was simply not enough evidence to support it.[/b]? ?[b]I? I know he had lost a lot of friends during that time. It was very difficult for him, with the divorce.[/b]? Growing up his mother had never said much about his father, or their life before the divorce. Washington Prime and its? control by NARSIA was far too hostile to raise a child in, which was why she accepted work with the Disaster Recovery Corps. As a result, his entire life had been spent in the third-world, working tirelessly to repair the damage caused by the mysterious catastrophe decades earlier. Alan placed his hand on Arthur?s shoulder, ?[b]I thought I had seen in the crowd outside the Von Braun, but I wasn?t sure. It?s good to see that your father?s views haven?t prevented you from experiencing this historic space flight.[/b]? ?[b]Oh, yes... I often wonder what my father would think of me if he knew where I was right now.[/b]? ?[b]The last time I saw your father he was such an angry man, full of fear and paranoia?[/b]? Alan replied, taking a drink from his glass, ?[b]Perhaps in time he?ll be able to find peace.[/b]? ?[b]As long as NARA continues to explore space, I?m not sure that?s ever going to be possible.[/b]? There was a long pause, and Arthur?s eyes began to narrow. Alan slowly stood up, and shook the young man?s hand once again, ?[b]Regardless, I should get going. Please send your mother my best.[/b]? ?[b]Before you go, Mr. Perez. Do you mind if I ask you a question?[/b]? ?[b]No -- of course not. What is it?[/b]? ?[b]My father always said that he was betrayed by academia, that they didn't do enough to support his research?[/b]? ?[b]There was much uncertainty about the time. I'm sure those same people were only trying to protect their jobs and families.[/b]? ?[b]And what about [I]my[/I] family?[/b]? Arthur snapped, ?[b]Did you betray us, too?![/b]? ?[b][I]Betray?[/I] Is this what you?ve grown into?[/b]? Alan narrowed his eyes, ?[b]I am an old man, and I have made many mistakes in the past? I never meant to cause your father any pain.[/b]? ?[b]You don?t understand what his life transformed him into. If you could have defended him?[/b]? ?[b]--There was nothing to defend but the ravings of a madman![/b]" Alan took a step back, shaking, "[b]I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that about Edward.[/b]? "[b]No. A lot of people say that about him. I'd much rather they be honest to me.[/b]" "[b]All the same, I know that if the situation were different he could have gone onto doing great things. It's a shame his career ended so early.[/b]" "[b]At least he found a cause he believed in.[/b]" He nodded, "[b]Perhaps so. Goodbye Arthur.[/b]" Alan quickly disappeared behind the crowd within the lounge, and Arthur found himself alone. The last thing expected was for someone on board to recognize him, least of all an old family friend. He knew that as soon as the ship departed he would have to deal with the situation. He checked his watch -- several hours had passed already. [I]Was the ship ever going to launch?[/I] He flagged down a nearby cocktail waitress, ?[b]Miss. When is the Von Braun going to take off?[/b]? ?[b]Oh that?s cute, hon,[/b]? the red-headed server said with a smile, ?[b]The ship has already left Earth Orbit.[/b]? Arthur?s eyes widened, ?[b]That can?t be?[/b]? "[b]Amazing, isn't it? You can't even hear the engines.[/b]" At that moment Arthur practically leapt from his chair and ran outside to see the deck?s enormous simulated windows for himself. There, just as he had been told, was Earth, slowly shrinking from view as the Von Braun sped further and further towards its? destination. Everything he and his father had worked against was finally coming to pass.

[size=1]Retribution, what kind of car do you drive? A Moped? $25 for a full tank? Really? It costs me over $50 to completely fill up my car. Anyway, gasoline sure is expensive! When I used to commute 40 miles to work (and 40 miles back) the price was around $2.00 a gallon, and I was still complaining about it. I can't imagine spending so much every month on gasoline now. I've cut down on my driving considerably as a result. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]I was talking about this with Indi, but we figured it would be best to open it up to everyone: It has been established that through sensors on the room keys/ID badges every guest and crew member on board the Von Braun is being monitored and tracked at all times. However, there can't possibly be video cameras [i]everywhere.[/i] Since a couple of characters (DeLarge/Darren/Myself) have clear motivations for wanting to slip past security, what areas of the ship should not be under 24/7 video surveillance? Private rooms and bathrooms, obviously, but what about crew quarters or "backstage" areas? -Shy[/size]

[size=1]My Great-Grandmother was born on Leap Day, and she was technically younger than I was when she passed away. Calendars are so weird. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/von%20braun/arthurmostdefinitely.jpg[/img] [img]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/avatar16_guest.gif[/img][/center] Arthur approached the bar counter, pushing himself through the massive crowd that had formed during Ilona‘s musical number. Growing up in Asia he was never very fond of, or familiar with Western music, least of all the smooth jazz and lounge ballads that Miss L’Marcelle claimed as her specialty. He found the songs soothing, but far too loud for his tastes. Behind the counter was a gruff white-haired man, easily the oldest person in the building. He wore a bowtie around neck and a white frilled shirt with French cuffs. “[b]What can I get for you sir?[/b]” “[b]Soda water and lime, please.[/b]” “[b][I]I‘ll need to see a ID for that, sir,[/I][/b]” the bartender said dryly. Arthur scowled at the man’s sarcasm, “[b]Here you go.[/b]” Arthur took a sip of his glass as he inspected the man’s name tag: JACK. He leaned in closely to the bartender. “[b]Do they pay you well here, Jack?[/b]” “[b]I work mostly for tips, so that depends on how much you think that club soda is worth.[/b]“ Arthur reached into his pocket and withdrew a large handful of Republic Dollars, placing them into Jack’s shirt pocket, “[b]I have another question for you…[/b]” Jack nodded, “[b]I’m all ears, sir.[/b]” “[b]There’s a lot of people gathered here,[/b]” Arthur said as he surveyed the crowd, “[b]But I don’t see a single security officer. Where are they?[/b]” Something had been bothering the young man since he entered Caesar’s Palace, and only now did he realize what it was. He had seen a large number of uniformed officers in every hallway and deck on the Von Braun. But on the casino floor there were none to be seen. Even the video surveillance appeared to be sparse. “[b]Why bother to guard the vault when there’s nowhere to run?[/b]” Jack replied, motioning towards a row of mirrors against the back wall, “[b]It may not look it, but they‘re watching. They‘re watching us all very carefully.[/b]” “[b]Plus,[/b]” a soft, female voice said from aside, “[b]It would take a little more than a getaway car to make it out of this casino.[/b]” Arthur turned to his side to discover Ilona L‘Marcelle, the lounge performer, standing before him. She was nursing a lemon drop martini in one hand, and adjusting the shoulder strap on her dazzling gown with the other. Her eyes inspected him carefully as she took a sip from her glass. “[b]I don’t believe we’ve met,[/b]” she said, extending her delicate hand, “[b]I’m the star of this show.[/b]” “[b]Thank you for clarifying. For a moment I thought everyone was on board for a space expedition.[/b]” “[b]People go on cruises for all sorts of reason,[/b]“ Ilona said as she ran her finger through her hair, “[b]Everyone is looking for a little adventure in their lives, but no matter where Man goes he always remembers to take the comforts of home with him.[/b]” “[b]Among other things,[/b]” Arthur replied, “[b]My name is Arthur Clarke.[/b]” “[b]It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Clarke. I couldn‘t help but notice your designer labels amongst the crowd.[/b]” “[b]Oh, er… thank you. I hope I’m not overdressed for the occasion.[/b]” “[b]Nonsense. You’re never overdressed when in the company of a lady.[/b]” "[b]Yes, that was quite the number you performed a moment ago.[/b]" Ilona beamed, “[b]Why thank you. What did you think?[/b]" "[b]I certainly had never seen anything like that before. I didn't realize that kind of... music was popular in America. Or anywhere, really.[/b] "[b]Oh, well,[/b]" she said with a grimace, "[b]I assure you that I have my fans out there. For example. I seem to have a huge female following.[/b]” "[b]I wouldn't really know. Of the women I've spoken to on board the Von Braun one was a hologram, and the other may well have been a robot. I’m not quite sure.[/b]” “[b]They’re not machines, dear. They’re hospitality workers.[/b]” The two shared a laugh as Ilona carried Arthur's hand towards the dance floor. “[b]Care to join me...?[/b]" she said smugly. Arthur shook his head, blushing, "[b]I'm afraid you misunderstood... I was only making small talk...[/b]" "[b]Then I'll be sure to cancel the wedding invitations,[/b]" she replied, "[b]Humor me. Please.[/b]"

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/von%20braun/arthurmostdefinitely.jpg[/img] [img]http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9978/vboavatarey3.jpg[/img][/center] After a few brief moments of relaxation Arthur changed his clothing and was ready to see the casino. However, before opening the door he noticed the bathroom mirror, and couldn’t help but admire what he saw. Growing up with a single parent money was scarce, and most of the clothing he had was hand-me-downs or sale items from a secondhand store. But if Arthur were to masquerade as a wealthy political son it was important that he looked the part. And he did. For the first time in his life Arthur was well dressed, [I]very well dressed[/I]… and handsome. The bookish teenager who couldn’t find a date disappeared behind a tailored gray suit, and so did the insecurities that came with it. He looked away from his clothing for only a moment to discovered an enormous white grin across his face. “[b]I have my work cut out for me,[/b]” Arthur said as he put on a large pair of reflective sunglasses, “[b]But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.[/b]” Arthur quickly threw his bag over his shoulder and hurried out to the elevator. As he exited his bedroom he noticed a pair of security officers watching him carefully from across the way. His heart raced for a moment, and the officers gave Arthur a friendly nod. “[b]Is everything alright?[/b]” Arthur asked. “[b]Yes,[/b]” one of the gentlemen replied, “[b]We’re merely assigned to patrol this deck for security reasons.[/b]” Arthur narrowed his eyes, “[b]…Seems like an awful lot of security for a restricted floor.[/b]” “[b]I assure you that it’s for our guests’ safety. As you may have seen on the internet, the captain has already received several death threats prior to launch...[/b]” “[b]I… had not heard that. That’s very surprising,[/b]” The elevator doors swung open, and Arthur hurriedly entered, “[b]Then I guess we’re lucky the NARA has a watch list to protect us from that sort of thing.[/b]“ “[b]Haha. That's definitely one way to look at it. Enjoy your stay sir.[/b]” Arthur had read his father’s writings, warning of the loss of personal freedom following the Great Disaster, and now within the hull of the Von Braun it had come to pass. It made little sense to him: all of the guests had been screened and background checked multiple times, so for what purpose were they being so closely watched? Before he made any moves it was imperative that Arthur discover where all of this information was being collected, and by who. The second deck of the Von Braun was an eclectic, yet elegant collection of stores, restaurants and boutiques. Given the amount of money these guests had spent to journey aboard the Von Braun it seemed excessive that there be so much shopping available to them. Even factoring in the enormous costs of space travel given the NARA’s scarce resources, no doubt the ship’s management was making a fortune on this flight. Large crowds in gaudy clothing were gathered around the entrance to the Caesar’s Palace Casino. It was an enormous gold building lined with neon and fiber-optic lighting, located opposite from the elevator door. At the front of the casino was one of the ship’s officials, attempting to speak to the crowd: “[b]Greetings everyone and welcome to the grand opening of the Caesar’s Palace Casino! Due to Washington Prime’s strict gaming laws, none of our slot machines or tables will be available for guests until after the ship has left Earth Orbit. Until then we extend our invitation for all of our guests to enjoy the casino’s luxurious dance hall, cocktail bars, and intimate lounge areas![/b]” Loud cheers let out a loud cheer as several bottles of champagne burst onto the crowd. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a handsome young man, probably around the same age, staring at the scene, and at Arthur, with a look of wonder in his eyes. “[b]This is going to be quite the celebration, isn’t it?[/b]” the man said. “[b]Yeah, it looks like these people aren’t wasting any time,[/b]” “[b]Were you here for the party?[/b]” “[b]I’m traveling alone, yeah, so I wanted to check it out,[/b]“ Arthur replied, “[b]I’ll be saving my champagne bath for later, though.[/b]” "[b]It's certainly something, isn't it?[/b]" the stranger laughed, “[b]I’m beginning to wonder if I made a mistake in coming aboard.[/b]” There was a moment of silence, Arthur raised an eyebrow in suspicion, “[b]What do you mean?[/b]” “[b]You see, I work for the Von Braun as a bartender. If this is how everyone is behaving before launch, I can’t imagine what the alcohol will do to their systems once we switch to pure enriched oxygen.[/b]” “[b]Oh. Yes. But I'm sure it’s nothing you can’t handle.[/b]” The man extended his hand to Arthur, “[b]My name is Zahir. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mister..?[/b]” “[b]Please, just call me Arthur.[/b]”

[quote name='Sandy']Oh, and if anybody wants interaction upon entering the ship, my character (or any one of her underlings) can be used to guide yours where needed.[/QUOTE][size=1]I used Hilda, Sandy. I hope you don't mind. Also, I established that the hologram was actually A.I., but it is extremely limited in its' responses. So while you can ask V.I.C.I. where the pool is (or whatever) a real hostess is going to be infinitely more helpful in most situations. Given Hilda's conflct about feeling outdated/old, it seems perfect that her rival is a flashy new computer program that [i]can't[/i] age. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/von%20braun/arthurmostdefinitely.jpg[/img] [img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/vonbraun2.png[/img][/center] Arthur Kendi approached the Von Braun with a bit of trepidation. He had spent months -- [I]years[/I], working with his father to prevent this launch, and now here he was preparing to board the craft as a passenger. Finally, after so much work, all of the pieces were coming together. The site of the launch was a carnival. Loud, festive music blared throughout speakers, drowning out the instructional announcements for guests. Between the noise, the confetti, and the thousands of cheering onlookers Arthur felt nauseated. [I]Does nobody else understand?[/I] he thought to himself, [I]Or would the human race simply prefer to welcome their extinction with smiling faces?[/I] Arthur was dressed in a black silk shirt, tailor fitted to reveal his muscular frame. From now on Terra Prime's Arthur Kendi was no more; on board the Von Braun he would assume the identity of "Arthur Clarke." According to the background information he had created for himself, Arthur Clarke was the only son of a former Energy Minister. He had a passion for travel and leisure, but preferred to do so alone. This would allow him entry into the restricted third deck of the vessel, and the privacy his mission required. It was of the utmost importance that he remain near the Captain’s quarters at all times. At the entry gate of the Von Braun was a middle-aged, blonde hostess. She wore a wrinkle-free uniform and an attentive smile across her face. Much to Arthur’s surprise her enormous grin grew even larger as he approached with his luggage in tow. “[b]Welcome to the Von Braun, sir![/b]” she said enthusiastically, “[b]May I see your boarding pass and identification please?[/b]” Arthur nodded and reached into his brown leather bag, He clutched tightly onto the boarding pass he had been provided earlier that morning, and handed it over to the woman. “[b]Thank you,[/b]” she said as she waved the pass over a nearby sensor bar. No response. “[b]Hmm…[/b]” “[b]Is everything alright?[/b]” She waved the pass over the device once again, “[b]It’s not registering the magnetic code on your pass. Let me try to enter the information manually.[/b]” “[b][i]Oh, of course,[/i][/b]” Arthur replied with a feigned smile. Silently he cursed himself as the woman entered in Arthur’s information into the device. If he were to be discovered outright at boarding, his entire mission would be ruined. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead as the woman, “Hilda” verified his information. “[b]It appears that everything checks out, Mr. Clarke. I apologize for the inconvenience, sir,[/b]” she said, “[b]Your pass must have been demagnetized somehow.[/b]” “[b]No… it’s fine. Now, if it‘s at all possible I‘d like to see my quarters.[/b]” “[b]Oh, of course, sir![/b]” Hilda said as she reached for his bag, “[b]You will be placed in suite D3-34, on the third deck. Please allow our staff to carry your luggage to your bedroom for you.[/b]” Arthur quickly pulled away. “[b]No! …Thank you, but I would much prefer to hold onto this.[/b]” “[b]Then at least allow me to escort you to your quarters, Mr. Cla--[/b]” “[b]I’ll find my way around fine. Thank you.[/b]” Arthur replied coldly, “[b]Now, my room..?[/b]” “[b]Yes, here is your room pass, Mr. Clarke![/b]” she said, unbothered by Arthur‘s curt behavior, “[b]Have a wonderful evening, and please enjoy your stay aboard the Von Braun.[/b]” “[b]Oh, yes… thank you…[/b]” Arthur rushed past Hilda and entered the Von Braun’s main lobby. Much like the exterior of the Von Braun, the design was clearly a throwback to the Space Age. Color was sparse, save for light shades of blue here and there. A large crowd was gathered within, sipping champagne and getting to know one another as they waited for the vessel to depart. Keeping his eyes low to the ground, Arthur quickly entered the elevator. A As the door shut behind him a holographic woman appeared within. Despite being an animation, she was beautiful. She had dark brown hair, a porcelain complexion and a smile not unlike the hostess he had encountered earlier. “[b]Greetings, Mr. Clarke![/b]” the hologram said. Arthur jumped back, “[b]What the hell!?[/b]” In all of his time studying the Von Braun he had never read anything about artificial intelligence on board the vessel, let alone A.I. that was so lifelike. “[b]I am a construct of the Von Braun’s Integrated Central Intelligence. You may call me V.I.C.I.[/b]” “[b]How did you recognize me?[/b]” “[b]Both your room key and boarding pass contain sensors. This will allow my system to better suit your hospitality needs.[/b]" "[b]...Of course.[/b]" "[b]We are headed to Deck 3. If you need further instructions to your room, please let me know.[/b]” “[b]V.I.C.I.… are you keeping track of all of the passengers?[/b]” “[b]Yes. I keep detailed logs on all comings and goings of both passengers and crew.[/b]” “[b]And who has access to all of these logs?[/b]” There was a moment of silence before V.I.C.I. replied, “[b]Invalid query. Please try another.[/b]” The elevator door opened up to reveal the expansive third deck. Unlike the lobby, this floor appeared to be much more colorful and luxurious. In the long hallway leading up to his quarters he passed up several beautiful pieces of art. Whether they were originals, or yet another lie, was uncertain, but Arthur couldn’t help but admire the attention to detail that had been put into designing the space. Arthur opened the door to his expansive quarters, and the lights instantly turned on within. With a large living space and bedroom it was larger than anything he had come to know growing up. It was yet another irony that he would spend the last weeks of his life in luxury aboard the very craft he had come to despise. As he sat on his bed Arthur dropped his bag on the floor, spilling out several vials and syringes contained within. He would have plenty of time to set his plan into motion, but for now all he wanted to do was rest. It was a difficult road that had led Arthur Kendi to the Von Braun, but his journey was only beginning.

[SIZE=1]Excellent cast list. I look forward to seeing what trouble we can come up with together. Just to clarify, the auditions cast list mentions my character 'Arthur Clarke' as being the founder of Terra Prime. He is not the founder, his father is. Also, Arthur is not a public figure like his father was. People might be able to discern the connection to Terra Prime if they knew his real name, but that is not the case. :whoops: -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Nerdsy and I are planning to start a story to show that crossover fiction can work. We decided that we were going to write a story that would feature an unbelievably large cast from a large spectrum of genres and titles... it's going to be awesome. We want to know which characters you want to see in such a story. We are not going to tell you the premise of it, nor of the type of setting. We just want, plain and simple, for you guys to tell us which characters you want to see in a mass crossover story. All suggestions will be seriously considered. [b]Even if they're not anime.[/b] -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Sandy']Oh, and Shy, you forgot to bring the fireworks and the champagne. ;P[/QUOTE] [size=1]I didn't forget the champagne, I'm just keeping it all for myself. It's been a long couple of months, you know? Anyway, I had a great time putting this story together and I hope everyone else did as well. Special thanks to all of our dedicated players, especially Sandy. Now that I've had some time to 'cool off' I'm looking forward to working with everyone again... if not in Von Braun then in the inevitable Almagest sequel. But I suppose that's a story for another day. -Josh[/size]

[quote name='8bit'][FONT="Tahoma"][COLOR="DimGray"]Are cigarettes allowed to be smoked anywhere on the ship? Because my character is Dutch (he's actually based on my Opa, same name and everything, who I never got the chance to meet) and I'd like him to be able to-- actually I'll leave that as a surprise. My question stands, though. [/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE][size=1]So you're writing a story about your late Opa, and his real name is 'Posthumous'? Wow. Irony. Awesome. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]We're done! *dances* Thanks everyone! Thanks Sandy! -Shy[/size]

[size=1][indent][center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/fauntleroy-chronicle.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/leonhartavatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/victoriaann-chronicle.jpg[/img][/center] It was late in the afternoon when Fauntleroy exited his steam car and approached the Rosengard estate. The summer had been kind to Czenovia, and it promised to be a season blessed with cool weather and even cooler tempers. King Primas had kept true to his word, and although forming a new government was taking longer than anticipated, the sweeping changes taking place across the nation were evident in every facet of life. Fonty had just returned from a morning in the capital, working with Magitech to return the city to its‘ former glory. The fortress walls on the perimeter was removed, instead replaced with a more humble, open area for all of its‘ citizens to enjoy. Even Rosengard had taken on new life, playing house to many of the families forced out of their homes during the revolution. With Dame Anna gone things weren’t nearly as perfect as before, but then again, nobody expected them to be. At the top of the front steps of Rosengard was Leonhart, enjoying a snifter of brandy in one hand, and clutching tightly onto a cane with the other. He was no longer the larger-than-life figure who had dominated Fonty’s life; instead replaced with a frail contemplative man. Daedalus’ death had been difficult for all of the family, but for Leonhart Almagest it seemed almost too much to bear. “[b]How is the construction going?[/b]” Leonhart asked, “[b]Have you received the materials I sent for you?[/b]” “[b]You shouldn‘t have bothered,[/b]” Fonty replied, “[b]Czenovia can’t affird granite and marble in its’ current state. Beatriste says that when everything is accounted for we won’t even break even on our building costs.[/b]” Fauntleroy suddenly felt the strong tap of a cane across his forehead, “[b]Ow![/b]” “[b]The plans the Mirror Palace drew up are insufficient for High Czenoble. If we lose a few crownes along the way, so be it. Your grandchildren will thank you…[/b]” “[b]Judging from our progress, they'll probably be working on this project too. We have been at this for months and still half of the High Czenoble is nothing but scaffolding.[/b]” “[b]Yes,[/b]” Leonhart said, staring out onto the city on the horizon, “[b]But when you're finished the city will look grand.[/b]” Fonty raised an eyebrow, “[b]And how do you know that?[/b]” Leonhart motioned for his son to follow him, and the two entered the house. Sitting on a nearby endtable was Fonty’s camera. “[b]Victoria Ann had told me about your mother’s camera months ago…[/b]” Leonhart explained, “[b]When I saw that you had left it lying around I must admit that I couldn’t fight my curiosity.[/b]” The old man reached into his jacket and revealed several photographs. One showed the completed construction of the city while another revealed Fauntleroy and an older-looking Victoria Ann exploring a mysterious Anovan manor. “[b]You took some photographs today, father?[/b]” “[b]Your mother… Patrice… she had stumbled across this strange camera while traveling the Old Globe,[/b]” Leonhart said with a soft grin, “[b]When I met her for the first time she told me that I was going to be the love of her life. I asked her how she knew, but she simply smiled and said that it was her 'destiny.' It wasn‘t until much later that she showed me the photographs of our wedding day, nearly a year before I had proposed![/b]” Fonty‘s eyes widened, “[b]Why have I never heard of this before?[/b]” “[b]Your mother loved to use that camera, stealing glimpses at the future here and there. Unfortunately the only thing it had failed to see was her death…[/b]” Leonhart said, letting out a heavy sigh, “[b]I was outraged, and ordered Anna to destroy it once and for all. It would seem that she went against my wishes once again…[/b]” “[b]Father, when I had first taken pictures with the camera I saw you… after your kidnapping. I didn‘t know what to think,[/b]” Fonty said, “[b]I could have done more to help you. Maybe if I had acted sooner Daedalus wouldn’t have--[/b]” “[b]You will say no such thing![/b]” Leonhart shouted, “[b]Everything that has happened, I know in my heart that I am only to blame. My actions have caused pain for countless families… it does not take a vision of the future to know that it would catch up with me eventually.[/b]” Leonhart’s eyes began to water, “[b]I feel as if I have wasted so much time, all of these years. How can I expect forgiveness from my family, let alone my nation?[/b]” Fonty grabbed tightly onto his father’s shoulder, and the two embraced. “[b]You would have made your mother very proud. I have every faith in---[/b]” “[b]Uncle Fonty! Uncle Fonty![/b]“ Suddenly Victoria Ann rushed into the doorway, partially out of breath. “[b]What is it?[/b]” Fonty asked, “[b]What’s wrong?[/b]” “[b]The Royal Police are here for you![/b]” Victoria Ann exclaimed, “[b]They say that you’re reading the blueprints wrong, and that you’re building the city backwards![/b]” “[b]Oh. My,[/b]” Fonty said nervously, “[b][I]I suppose that is a problem.[/I][/b]” Leonhart glared at his son as he sheepishly exited the hallway, “[b]Don’t wait up for me father. I suspect the King isn’t going to be very happy with me…[/b]” “[b]That boy…[/b]” Leonhart groaned, “[b]Come with me, Victoria Ann. Let’s see if we can’t find something to snack on before dinner…[/b]” Victoria Ann reached for her Grandfather’s hand and the two began to walk down the hallway, “[b]Grandpa Leonhart, what are those photographs you‘re holding?[/b]” “[b]Oh, these?[/b]” he said as he handed them over to the young girl, “[b]They are pictures of the future, taken with your Uncle’s camera.[/b]” “[b]Is that me?[/b]“ Victoria Ann thumbed through the photographs with a grimace on her face, “[b]What is wrong with my hair? I look so… [I]boring[/I].[/b]” “[b]I think you will become a beautiful and confiident young lady,[/b]” Leonhart said warmly, “[b]Why, I bet before too long [i]you‘ll[/i] be the one running our family business.[/b]” “[b]No thanks![/b]” Victoria Ann replied, “[b]I would much rather go on an adventure![/b]” “[b]Adventure? Haven’t you had enough adventure for one lifetime?[/b]” “[b]Are you kidding?! I‘m only eleven years old and I helped save the whole country![/b]" she said proudly, "[b]Just wait and see what happens next year![/b]”[/size][/indent] [indent][center][img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/almagest-banner4.png[/img] [font=garamond][size=6][b]Cast of Characters:[/size][/b] [size=3][i][b]Sandy[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Gerrault "Gadget" Stark[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Gavin[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Daedalus Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Aaryanna Mom[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Catherine Sara Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Shy[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Fauntleroy Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Raiha[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Macey Ellen Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Sakura[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Marie Evangeline Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Muse[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Henry Grimalkin[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Malkav[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Jonathan "Jack" Deacon[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Cyriel[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Morphia Markham[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Sunfall[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Alecia Leanna Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Rachmaninoff[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Alexander Edward Madison[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Aaryanna[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Victoria Ann Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Indi[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Harrison Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Blayze[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Dawlish Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Darren[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Charles Garnett Cornwall[/b][/size] [size=3][i][b]Chikara Kokoro[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Helen "Nellie" Almagest[/b][/size] [size=3][i]and [b]James[/b] as...[/i][/size] [size=4][b]Vincent Achard, Gustave Achard, and Audrey Bertrand[/b][/size] ...END... [size=3][b]The Almagest Legacy[/b] was proudly created by [b]Sandy[/b] and [b]Shy[/b]. Special thanks to everyone involved throughout the course of this RPG.[/center][/size][/font][/indent]

[size=1]This site is totally wrong. When I was a staff member my salary was at least twice that amount. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Gavin just wrote up his final post for Dawlish, and I thought it was nothing short of excellent. It covered all of the bases that it needed to, but being the perfectionist that he is, Gavin wanted to write even [i]more[/i]. I'm quoting what he posted OOC in the main thread, in hopes that one of the mods can delete that bit from his post. I mean, we have a Backstage thread for a reason, right?[/size] [quote=Gavin][size=1]Sorry guys, originally this was supposed to cover quite a different story, based around Daedalus' funeral but I got sidetracked trying to cover what I figured would occur before then. With my exams creeping up really fast, and my general computer time getting increasingly limited I'm afraid I've had to cut it at this. The "sad event" that was supposed to be covered in this was actually going to be a duel between Dwalish and his younger brother Jacob Mason, ending in Jacob's death. The plot I had in my head was that after the main state funeral for Daedalus and the other dead members of the Fleet/Guard, the Almagests would have a small family ceremony at the family sepulchre on the grounds of Rosengard for both Daedalus and Helen, attended by the main characters. When Dwalish goes to speak about his father, Mason arrives drunk and begins ranting about how everything Dwalish is saying is an utter lie and they're all better off now that the "warmonger" is dead. As hinted throughout the story, Daedalus' paternal side is something that is only fairly recent, although his caring for his children genuinely was always there, he was just bad at expressing it. For Mason, given he was so different to his father this would lead to confrontations until eventually he chose to leave the family almost altogether, something quite similar to Fontleroy, in fact, Jacob could be considered a predecessor to Fontleroy. Jacob's drunken slurs against his father, Helen and Dwalish for their similarity is all it takes for Dwalish's fragile control to snap and the pair literally start brawling in front of everyone, until eventually they're pulled apart and Jacob challenges Dwalish to a duel to what he calls "settle his honour". Dwalish readily accepts, still nearly beyond reason with anger. As you might expect, the rest of the characters are horrified by what is about to occur, particularly the law-abiding non-noble Alexander, although he is made aware by Leonhart that the duel is legal and there's nothing any of them can do to stop them. To be blunt, it's a very short fight, Jacob is disarmed, literally losing a hand before his brother stabs him directly through the heart. Harriet collapses at the sight of the death of another of her children, even one as far removed from the family as Mason, while Harrison can only look on with mixed emotions of shock and horror. As Dwalish sees his mother collapse, he is finally brought back to his senses from his bloodlust and backs away in shame and dismay at what he's just done. Catherine and the other ladies attend to Harriet, while Alexander leads Harrison away. After a few minutes, it's just Dwalish, Leonhart and Bavaria left, Dwalish remains distraught, clutching at his face and calling himself a monster and a murderer [his worst fears] through pained sobs, while his aunt in a rather unusual show of sympathy merely cradles his head and attempts to comfort him. Leonhart merely stares at Jacob's body reflecting his relationship with his own estranged son before walking over to his brother's coffin to say his final goodbye, placing his own first invention on Daedalus' tomb. The final part was to involve a skip ahead a month into the future, Harriet remains badly affected by the death of half the family in such a short period of time, which coupled with her own illness has lead to it being accepted she has relatively little time left to live. Dwalish has recovered somewhat from everything that has occurred, but his mother's impending death is something he blames himself for, and as such obsesses to take care of Harrison as best he can to try and make amends and earn back his younger brother's respect. He receives orders to join Air-General Von Heisenberg's 2nd Fleet, currently patrolling Czenovia's furthest western borders, near the New Globe. Again, sorry I couldn't finish this, I really wanted to, but right now, I just don't have the time.[/size][/quote][size=1] Again, excellent post Gavin. Thank you again for your commitment to the RPG so far. I guess it's just Indi, Muse and myself left! -Shy[/size]

[size=1][indent]Darkness. Aaron marched through the forest, noticing a beautiful stranger unconcious at his feet. For only a moment, he broke his concentration. ‘[I][b]A damsel in distress,[/b][/I]’ he thought, ‘[I][b]But I’m no hero[/b][/I]…’ A lone howl echoes from the night. Footsteps are approaching. She would never learn the name of who saved her life that night.[/size][/indent]

[quote name='Raiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Oh yes, and Sandy? The opinion still won't take effect for another 26 days and it may very well be stuck down by the voters in November. So this celebration may be a bit premature.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE][size=1]I very highly doubt the ammendment will even make it to the ballots, let alone get voted into the constitution. California is an extremely liberal state, and many think this ruling has been a long time coming. The best chance the opposition has is to challenge it in the Surpreme Court, but it's a state's rights issue, and our they probably wouldn't even hear the case. -Shy[/size]